Device for raising sunken vessels.



S. PARSHALL. DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN-VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1914.

1,136,608. Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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' Wz'tn es/s e-s Inventor g/amflx Seth Pardaafl or y THE NORRIS PETERS 0a. PHOTO-unio WASHINGTON. D. C.

S. PARSHALL. DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

APPLICATION men JUNE 29, 1914.

1,136,608. Patented Apr. 20, 1915;

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ii-1k Witn eases 4 H Inventor 6/Z W. Seth .Parsfiall I W? MWW THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHO, WASHINGTON. D. C.

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SETH PARSIIA LL, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO ALLIE WEATHERHEAD AND ONE-FIFTH TO IRENE REED, BOTH 0F TACOMA, WASH- moron.

DEVICE FOR RAISING SUN KEN VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 29, 1914. Serial No. 848,310.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SETH PARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Seattle, King county, Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for raising sunken vessels, and consists of certain mechanisms placed upon the vessel as permanent fixtures, said mechanisms including therein members, as buoys, which are floated free of the vessel when it sinks, and guide cables which connect the buoys with the vessel, whereby it is possible to lower and guide into place grappling mechanisms so as to securely fasten to the vessel and raise the same to the surface.

My invention comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts which will be here inafter described and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the drawings I have shown my invention in its present preferred form.

Figure 1. is a partial transverse section of a vessel, showing the manner of installing my apparatus thereon. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a vessel, illustrating the manner of placing my devices thereon. Fig. 3 is an elevation, showing in detail one of the com ponent parts of my apparatus. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partially in section, of the same parts, the view point being at right angles to that of Fig. 3, the buoy being removed and the grappling mechanism being lowered to attach to the device.

In applying my apparatus, I install a number of the devices shown in Figs. 3 and l, the number of these varying with the size of the vessel and other circumstances.

Each is like the others in construction, this being essentially as follows. A beam, 1, is thoroughly secured to the frame work of the ship so that it will not pull away, even under severe strain, and extends upward to a point where it is'clear of all superstructure, or so that a buoy carried by the upper end thereof, when floated off, will not foul with any part of the superstructure. This beam at its upper end, terminates in a stout hook or downwardly inclined hook arm 10. Bars 2 are secured to beam 1 and diverge or incline outwardly therefrom, t a i t,

below the hook, and extend well above the hook to serve as a support for a buoy 3, to hold the same above the hook.

The means for supporting the buoy which is preferred and shown, consists of a ring 20 secured to the upper ends of arms 2, of a size to surround the buoy, the buoy being of a size to prevent its passing through the ring, or being provided with suitable projections engaging the ring 20 and maintaining the buoy securely in position while leaving it free to be floated ofi if the vessel sinks. To the lower end of the buoy is secured a small cable l, which passes through a hole 11 in the upper end of the hook arm 10, and thence through suitable guides to a storage drum 41, located at the nearest convenient point where it will be safe and the least in the way. As I have shown it in Fig. 1, it is just. below deck. I have shown a pipe 40 located alongside the beam 1 through which the cable passes and by which it is protected against fouling and interference. The cable a should preferably be secured to the buoy through the means of a swivel, 49.,so that the twisting tendency always existing in new cables will not cause'any trouble. I employ a series of these hooks with their associated buoys and guide cables, preferably locating them about the rail of the vessel. I also connect the buoys in series by cables 31 which extend along the sides of the vessel, from buoy to buoy, and at the ends of each side series, across the deck to the other side series. These lines must be outside and above or so as to clear all rigging when the buoys are floated off. Those lines which extend acrossthe vessel must be carried over everything, which in some cases would mean over wireless or other rigging at or near the level of the top of the masts, as is indicated in Fig. 1. Should a vessel so equipped sink, the buoys would float to the surface, drawing with them the guide cables 4;. The length of the cables t will be regulated by the depth of water to be navigated by the vessel, the length in each drum being, so far as this is practicable, greater than the maximum depth of water being navigated.

The grappling mechanism to be employed comprises heavy lifting cables, having secured to their lower ends links or rings {7, through which t g ide a les 4 a e passed. These are lowered, guided by the cables 4 to the hooks 10, over which they are guided.

"To insure proper presentation of the links to the hooks, a guiding mechanism 8 is placed just over the hook. This consists of a plate of U-shape which is secured between the arms 2 in an inclined position, the incline being downwardly toward the point of the hook, or in the same direction as that of the hook arm 10. The arms 80 are thus placed at respectively opposite sides of the vertical plane of the hook arm 10 and the connecting yoke 81 at the upper side of the incline. The side arms 80 should preferably be provided with upwardly extending flanges 82. This device is contacted by the link 7 before it reaches the hook and is designed to deflect the link into position such that it will slide over the hook point in proper position to engage it when lifted. I may employ a keeper 12, which will prevent removal of the link when once engaged with the hook.

To facilitate finding the buoys after having been floated to the surface, I may provide them with sockets 32 for the reception of the stems of flags 33.

What I claim as my invention and desire to patent is: V V

1. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels comprising a series of buoys, cradles or supports for the buoys permitting free upward removal of the buoys, a guide cable secured to each buoy, cables connecting the various buoys in a string, and lifting hooks secured to the frame of the vessel and each having a hole passing through its upper part and through which the guide cables pass. 2. In an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, a beam secured to the vessels framing and extending upward to a level above and clear of all superstructure, a downwardly inclined hook arm'carried by the upper end of said beam, two arms secured to the upper part of said beam and extending upwardly and divergently, a buoy carried by said arms over the hook, a guide cable secured to the buoy and a guide for said cable carriedby the hook.

3. In an apparatus for'raising sunken vessels, a beam secured to the vessels framing and extending'upward'to a level above and clear of all superstructure, a downwardly inclined hook arm carried by the upper end of said beam and having a cable guide at its upper end, two arms secured to. theupper part of said beam and extending upwardly and divergently well above the hook arm, separated ring-guiding bars carried above said hook and inclined :in like direction therewith, a buoy carried by the said divergent arms above the hook and a guide arm and with its median plane corresponding with that of the hook arm.

5. An apparatusfor use in raising sunken vessels, comprising a series of buoys and supports therefor distributed about the outer margin of the hull, a guide cable connected with each buoy, means adapted when directed by said cables for securing lifting cables to the hull, and horizontal cables connecting all the buoys in series.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afi'ixed my signature'this 24th day ofJune, 1914:. i

SETH PAR-SHALL.

Witnesses: v V

CHARLES L. RnYNoLDs, C. F. GREINEB.

Copies of thi: patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

W h s on,D-G- 

